Italy supports installing crucifixes and nativity scenes in all classrooms: ‘It’s part of our culture and tradition’

Italy’s Education Ministry stresses importance of displaying Christian symbols in schools after it emerged Christmas displays were being blocked “out of respect for other cultures”

“For me, the crucifix is a symbol of our history, our culture, our traditions,” education minister Marco Bussetti told a meeting of 180 of Italy’s teachers and school leaders.

Speaking at the Federation of Catholic Schools’ annual congress in Rome on Thursday, Bussetti said that he could not fathom why school leaders were concerned that Christian symbols in classrooms would be an issue.

After controversy erupted in Terni over school deciding to cancel its traditional nativity play as a “sign of respect” from pupils from other cultures, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini blasted the move as “idiocy”.

“It is not just about religion,” commented Salvini on a Facebook post about the story, “but about history, roots, culture. I will not give up – Long live our traditions, and may they spread!”.

Local Lega representative brought the country’s attention to the decision made by the school’s head teacher, and went on to state: “Only by respecting [our own traditions]… can we make others understand everyone is free to practice their own faiths but that it is also required they respect the history and culture of the country in which they live.

“I hope that children and young people at the school will be allowed to share with their peers and their parents the most beautiful, intense and meaningful moments of Christmas.”

This event is just one of several cases of forbidding Christian displays in what Italian media is calling an “open war” on school nativity displays.